FOMO is a Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang word meaning “Fear of missing out — anxiety over not being included in something fun or important”. Here’s the full FOMO meaning explained, with examples, origin, and how to say it in 10+ languages.
What is FOMO? FOMO Meaning Explained
Fear of missing out — anxiety over not being included in something fun or important
FOMO is what hits when you see others having fun — without you. If your groupchat’s silent but Insta is loud, yeah… that’s textbook FOMO.
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) became widespread during the Instagram era — a side effect of constantly seeing people post highlight reels. It turned into a major meme phrase in the 2010s and still lives in every social feed today.
FOMO — Slang Examples in Sentences
“She posted the concert recap and my FOMO is unreal rn.”
| Sentence | Translation / Context |
|---|
| “Skipped the party and now I’ve got FOMO watching everyone’s stories 😩” | Triggered by seeing friends hang out without you. |
| “I saw all of them at brunch without me. FOMO hit HARD.” | Describing the regret of skipping an event or plan. |
| “She posted the concert recap and my FOMO is unreal rn.” | Used when watching social media and feeling left out. |
| “Why didn’t anyone tell me this was happening? FOMO attack.” | A relatable reaction to group chats or posts you weren’t part of. |
| “Every time I see a group trip on TikTok, instant FOMO.” | Meme-worthy phrase for when you’re just chronically online and left out. |
FOMO is the anxious cousin of scroll culture — that panicked feeling that you’re being left out of fun, iconic, or important moments. Social media fuels it, and Gen Z memes it into something funny, petty, and painfully real.
Where Did “FOMO” Come From? FOMO Origin
FOMO began wide-spread usage in the 2010s
FOMO hit big in early Instagram culture, and by the time TikTok took over, it became fully ironic. Gen Z turned it into meme captions, dramatic tweets, and that feeling when you ghosted plans but now regret it.
FOMO in Every Language
Learn how to say (or at least explain) FOMO in 9+ languages! Jump to a section from the table above to read about FOMO in every language.
FOMO意味｜FOMOとは？ 🇯🇵
FOMOの意味は？何かに参加できず不安になる感情
FOMO（フォーモ）は「取り残されたくない」気持ちを表す言葉で、SNSを見て不安になる時に使われる。
FOMO의미｜FOMO이란? 🇰🇷
FOMO 뜻: 놓칠까 봐 생기는 불안, 특히 SNS에서 자주 느끼는 감정
FOMO(포모)는 재미있는 일이나 모임에 끼지 못할까봐 생기는 불안이에요.
FOMO意思｜FOMO是什么？ 🇨🇳
FOMO 是什么意思？担心错过社交或活动的情绪
FOMO（错失恐惧症）是看到别人玩得开心时产生的焦虑或不安感。
FOMO Bedeutung｜Was Bedeutet FOMO? 🇩🇪
Was bedeutet FOMO? Slang für soziale Ausgrenzungsangst
FOMO ist die Angst, etwas zu verpassen — oft ausgelöst durch Social Media.
FOMO Significado｜¿Qué Significa FOMO? 🇪🇸
¿Qué significa FOMO? Miedo a quedar fuera de los planes
FOMO es el miedo a perderse de algo divertido o importante.
FOMO Significato｜Che Cosa Vuol Dire FOMO? 🇮🇹
Cosa vuol dire FOMO? Slang per paura di restare fuori
FOMO è l’ansia di essere esclusi da eventi o momenti divertenti.
FOMO Signification｜C’est Quoi FOMO? 🇫🇷
Quelle est la signification de FOMO ? Crainte de manquer un événement
FOMO est la peur de rater quelque chose, souvent ressentie en regardant les réseaux sociaux.
FOMO значение｜Что такое FOMO? 🇷🇺
Что значит FOMO? Страх быть вне тусовки или пропустить событие
FOMO — это страх упустить что-то важное или весёлое, особенно в соцсетях.
FOMO ما معنى｜المعنى FOMO؟ 🇸🇦
ما معنى FOMO؟ الخوف من أن يفوتك شيء مهم أو ممتع
FOMO هو الخوف من فقدان حدث ممتع أو مهم، وغالبًا ما يظهر عند رؤية منشورات الآخرين.
FOMO Overview
FOMO is a social media survival term. If you’ve ever watched a story and felt dead inside — yep, that’s FOMO. Welcome to the feed.
That’s the full slang guide for FOMO, straight from the Skibidi DB!
Sasha | Gen Z Reporter
Hi, I’m Sasha, a Gen Z reporter and content goblin here at Skibidi Times.
I’m 19 with Italian roots (yes, I’m fluent in both Italian and Italian Brainrot 🇮🇹💅) and I love covering everything from TikTok trends to Gen Alpha drama.
When I’m not online scrolling way too deep, you’ll catch me with Froyo in one hand and a fresh nail set on the other — I’m a certified nail art addict and self-taught specialist in all things cute ✨💅🍦.
